Wright Formation

17th December 2003
A celebration of 100 years of powered flight

Using the callsign "Wright Formation", a Bölkow Junior, Scottish Aviation Bulldog and Skylark Aviation's deHavilland Chipmunk took off from runway 21 at Prestwick International Airport at 1455 hours. In a flight lasting 40 minutes, the aircraft overflew the town of Ayr, continuing South along the coast to Culzean Castle. After orbiting overhead Culzean Bay for a few minutes, the aircraft returned to Prestwick via Maybole and Dalrymple for a low-level fly-pass along runway 31 followed by a formation landing back on runway 21 at 1535 hours, the exact time that Orville Wright first took to the air in 1903.

Commenting on the event, Skylark director and chief flying instructor Steve Maric said, "It is hard to imagine any technological invention that could have had a greater impact on our every-day lives than that of Wilbur and Orville Wright." He added, "With Prestwick playing such an important part in the development of Britain's aviation industry, I believe that today's flight is a fitting celebration not only of the Wright Brothers, but also the many other pioneers who have contributed so much to aviation over the last hundred years".

(Photographs by Brian Kyles)

Wright Formation leaves the Prestwick Circuit to overfly the town of Ayr